Engine starting apparatus



March 1, 1932. l. .1. REUTER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Original Filed June 29. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1, 1932. J. REUT ER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Original Filed June 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MW MW km.

Patented Mar. 1, 1932 STATES PATENT OFFICE I'RNING l, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 DELCO-REMY'COIRAPORATION, 0F DAYTON, OEIO,.A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ENGINE STARTING- APPARATUS Application fi1ed..'fune 29, 1928, Serial No. 289,162. Renewed August 12, 1931.

This invention relates to starting appa- "ratus for internal combustion engines, "p articularly of the typewherein an electric motor is connected'by means of a slidable gear with a gear connected flywheelgear. J

This application is a continuation in part of my cope'nding application Serial No.

702,453, filedMarch 2.7, 1924.

One object of the present invention is to provide for manually "connecting the startinganotor with'the engine before the motor is operated in order .to-elirninate damage 'to the connecting gears or other connecting-memdamage has frequently resulted hereto where the starting motor'is caused to operate before the connecting gears are fully engaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide Ffor disengaging the connecting gears or other connecting members automatically in response to the enginebecoming self-operative in order that the motor will .not be driven by the engine. By such construction the use o'fan overrunning one-way clutch in the driving connections-between the starting motor and the starter gear in eliminated, and the startingapparatusismore reliable in operation :and cheaper to construct.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the fol- "lowing description, reference being'hadto the accompanying drawings, wherein apre'ferred embodiment of one formof'the presentinven- 'tion is clearly shown.

In the drawings: v

Fig. T 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one form of the inventiongthe sliding gear driven .by the .motor being out of mesh with the .engineigear.

Fig. 2isa sectional view on the1line.2-.2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar-to Fig. 1 showing thesliding gear in engagement with the engine flywheel gear.

Referring to the drawings,"tl1estarting device includes a frame or gear housing 20 into- .gra'l with a b'racket21adapting the'frame to be attached .to'frameo'f an engine,not-shown. Frame20supports'amotorfieldframe 22"carwith the engine, such as a rying field windings 23, the terminal of one of the windings being attached to switch contact 24: supportedby the frame22 but insu- "lated therefrom. The other end of the .field windings 23 isconnected series'with the communtator, not shown, of the'armature 25.

'Thearmature is connected "through aground circuit, not shown, with a storage battery 26 which is connected with a switch-contact 27 mounted upon but insulated from a switch '60 housing "28 attached by a screw 29 to the motor field frame 22. The switch housing supportsa'movableplunger 3O normally held in position shown .in' Fig. 1 by spring 81. a, The plunger 30 carriesa movable switch contact32 for engaging the contacts 24 and 27 to complete the starting motorcircuit.

The armature 25 is mounted upon an armature shaft supported at one end by'the field frame 22 in any suitable manner, not shown, and at the other end at fl by the housing20. Theshaft 4O includesalongitudinally splined portion 42 engaging internal splines 4-3 with which a. slidable sleeve is provided. The sleeve 44 is provided with screw threads or helical splines 45 engaging the internally threaded. hub of a motor driven gear starterdrive connecting-member 46. Gear 46 car- -ries a disk 47 normally bearing against'a stop plate 48 attachedby screws 49to the housing '20. A clip 50 is ad'ap'tedto extend into the path of movement otfthe' disk47 so 'a'sto prevent accidental'movement of the gear 46 as will be more apparent hereinafter. The movement ofthe gear 46 along the threaded sleeve 44 is limited by a stop 51 attached to one end of said sleeve. The other end of sleeve44 is provided with a washer 52 for engaging one end ofa spring53, theother end of which engages the end wall 54 of a housing 55 attached to a grooved sleeve 56 which is slidable upon the shaft 40. The housing 55 is attached to a second housing member 57 through the agency of lugs 58 whiohextend'from the housing '57 and'are bent overa flange '59 provided on the/housing 55. The otheren'd of the housing-55 m provided with an inwardly turned flange 60 'engaging the washer -52 and provided with an aperture which provides clearance for the sleeve 44.

The grooved collar 56 receives studs, one of which is shown at 61. Each stud is mounted upon the bifurcation 62 of a lever 63 which is pivoted at 64 upon the housing 20. Lover 63 carries a screw 65 which may be secured in various positions of adjustment by a lock nut 66 so that the time of closing the motor switch may be varied with respect to the movement of the lever 63 and consequently of the gear 46. The lever 63 is maintained normally in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a coil spring 70 having one end '71 hearing against the housing 20 and other end 72 hearing against a stud 7 3 carried by the lever 63. The lever 63 is provided with an aperture 75 for receiving any suitable linkage for connecting the lever with a foot pedal or other operating device mounted on the automobile. This device is not shown as it is apparent that the starting device can be operated by manipulation of the lever 63.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The lever 63 is moved in a counter clockwise direction, causing the collar 56 to move to the right in Fig. 1 and to move through the agency of spring 53 the threaded sleeve 44. Consequently, the gear 46 will move into engagementwith the engine or flywheel gear 80, or other rotatable part connected with the engine to be started. When these gears are susbtantially engaged the screw 65 of lever 63 will engage the plunger 30 and cause thev movable contact 32 to engage stationary contacts 24 and 27. In case the teeth of the gear 46 collide with the end faces of the flywheel gear teeth and thereby prevent further endwise movement of the sleeve 45, the operator will continue to depress the lever 63 inorder that the spring 53 will yieldingly transmit axial pressure to the sleeve 44 and to the motor gear 46 and will yieldingly press themotor gear 46 against the engine gear'80. WVhile these gears are maintained in engagement with yielding pressure, the sleeve 44 will be forced through the motor gear 46 and will cause the gear 46 to turn into meshingregistration with the gear 80. While the sleeve 45 is being forced through the gear 46 the spring 53 will be compressed somewhat beyond its initial state of compression; and, when the gear 46 has been turned into meshing registration with the gear 80, the spring 53 will be released and will very quickly jump the gear 46 endwise into mesh with the gear 80. Then the spring53 will assist the manually operable means in moving the gear 46 into meshwith the gear 80. Thus, even in case the gear 46 collides with the gear before meshing therewith, thegears 46 and 80 can be substantially meshed before the motor switch is closed.

In order that the sleeve 44 can functionto turn the gear 46 in the manner described, the

inclination of the helical splines 45 to the axis of the sleeve 44 should be more than approximately 45 degrees otherwise friction between the splines of the sleeve 44 andthe internal splines of the gear 46 might be sufiicient to prevent rotation of the gear 46 while the sleeve 44 is pressing it against the gear 80.

In case the operator should fail to release the lever 63 immediately after the engine be comes self-operative, the engine gear 80 will overrun the gear 46 and cause it to be threaded along the threaded sleeve 44 into the dotand-dash line position 46a shown in Fig. 3. Consequently the self-operation of the engine' will cause the starting motor to be automatically disconnected from the engine. The

gear 46 will be caused to-rotate and move endwise until it strikesa shoulder 44a of the sleeve 44 which spaces the disk 47 of the gear 46 a substantial distancefrom the plate 48 when the sleeve 44 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. This position of the disk 47 is indicated at 47 a in Fig. 3. It is desirable to maintain the disc 47 out of contactwith a stationary part until the lever 63 is released,

so as not to create a tendency for the gear 46 to be threaded toward the gear 80, which would occur if the' gear 46 were permitted toiengage the stop 48 while the motor switch is closer Although the self-operation of the engine causesthe gear 46to be swirled with considerable force against the shoulder 44a, the threaded connection of the sleeve 44 and gear 46 can be made so as to produce friction tending to prevent the gear 46 rebounding against the flywheel gear 80. Movement of gear 46 into contact with gear 80 is prevented by engagement of the clip 50 with the edge of the disk 47. e

The sleeve 44 is returned to the position (shown in 1) with respect to the gear 46, by means which includes the stationary plate 48. After the engine has been started, the lever 63 is released to allow the spring 70 to return the lever to normal position. The spring 70 will cause the disk 47 to engage the stationary plate 48 as shown in Fig. 1 so that movement of the gear 46 will be retarded or arrested. Although the motor circuit may be broken at that time, the motor armature and shaft will continue to rotate due to inertia, and will cause sleeve 44 to be threaded through the gear 46 so that it will return to the position shown in Fig. 1.

It is therefore apparent that no damage to the motor or gear can result from the failure to release startin lever 63, therefore no overrunning clutch is required between the gear 46 and the motor armature to prevent overspeeding the motor.

\Vhile the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming ran endwise movable .threaded What is'claimed is-as follows 1. In engine starting apparatus, the comfbin'ation with an internal combustion englne, and a gear connected therewith; of a motor having a shaft and a field frame; of a gear housing adapted to be attached to the frame of the-engine and supporting the field frame and a hearing from the motor shaft, said shaft extending through said housing;

sleeve splined to said shaft; a motor .gear threaded upon said sleeve; manual means including a lever mounted upon the housing for moving .the sleeve and motor gear-endwise to mesh said gears; a spring cooperating with the lever and tending to maintain the motor gear disengaged from the engine gear; :a stationary stop carried by the housing; and a part carried by the pinion for frictionally engaging the stop, said spring tending to maintain said part in engagement with, said stop.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor having a shaft; an axially movable threaded sleeve driven by the shaft; a motor gear threaded on said sleeve; manually operable means for moving the sleeve and motor gear endwise to mesh the motor gear with the gear of an engine to be started, and for causing the motor to operate to crank the engine, the self-operation of the engine automatically demeshing the motor gear from the engine gear by screwing the 'motor gear along the sleeve; a

spring for moving the sleeve and motor gear away from the engine gear when the manually operable means are released; and a stationary part engaged by the motor gear due to the action of said spring in order to retard the rotation of the motor gear, whereby the sleeve will be threaded relative to the motor gear due to rotation of the sleeve which continues after the manually operable means have been released.

'3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in'combination, a motor; an endwise movable threaded-shaft driven by'the'motor; a motor gear threadedlyconnected with said shaft; manually operable means for moving the shaft and motor gear endwise into mesh with the gear o'f an engine to be started, and for causing the motor to operate to crank the engine, the self-operation-of theengine automatically demeshing the motor gear from the engine gear by screwing the motor gear along the shaft; a spring for moving the shaft and motor gear away from the engine gear when the manually operable means are released; and meansresponsive to the action of said spring in urging the-motor gear away from the engine gear for retarding rotation of the motor gear, whereby the shaft will be threaded relative to the motor gear due to the rotation of the shaft which continues after the manually operable means have been released.

.4. Engine startingapparatus comprising, in combination, amotor'; an endwise movable threadedshaft drivenby the motor ;.a motor 7 gear when the manually operable meansare released; a disk carried by the motor gear adjacent the endthereof remote from the engine gear; and a stationary plate frictionally engaged by said disk due to theaction of said spring in urging the motor gear away from the engine gear after said manually operable means have been released, whereby the shaft will be threaded relative to the motorgear due. to the rotation of the shaft which continues after the manually operable means have been released.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor; an endwise movable threaded shaft driven'by the motor; a motor gear threadedly connectedwith said shaft; manually operable means for moving the shaft and motor gearendwise into mesh with the gear of an engine :toibe started, and for the shaft; a springfor moving the shaft and :motor gear away f'rom'the enginegear when the manually operable'means are released; a

disk carried by the motor gear adjacent the end thereof remote from the engine gear;

and a stationary plate-frictionally engaged said disk due to the action of said spring in urging the motor gear away from the engine gear after said manually operable means have been released, wh'ereby'the shaft will be threaded relative to the motor gear due :to the rotation of the shaft which continues after the manually operable means have been relased; and meansfor preventing the motor gear from rebounding from said plate into contact with theengine gear fol? lowing the automatic demeshing of the mo- .tor gear from the engine gear;

16. Engine-starting apparatus, comprising in combination, a motor; 'an endwise movable threaded shaft driven by the motor; amotor gear threaded'ly connected with said shaft; manually operable means for moving the shaft and motor, gear end wiselinto mesh with the gear of an engine to be started, and for causingthe motor to operateto crank the en gine, the self-operation ofthe engine automatically demeshing the motor gear from the engine gear by screwing'themotor gear along the shaft; a spring for moving the shaft and motor gear away from the engine gear when the manually operable means are released; a disk carried by the motor gear adjacent the end thereof remote from the engine gear; and a stationary plate frictionally engaged by said disk due to the action of said spring in urging the motor gear away from the engine gear after said manually operable means have been released, whereby the shaft will be threaded relative to the motor gear due to the rotation of the shaft which continues after the manually operable means have been released; and a resilient member located in the path of movement of said disk for engaging the edge of said disk to prevent the motor gear from rebounding from said plate into Contact with the engine gear following the automatic demeshing of the motor gear from the engine gear.

member and a manually actuated device 0perated by force transmitted by said spring for turning the driving member in case it collides with the engine member before being drivingly connected therewith while the driving member is yieldingly urged against the engine member; and means for automatically disconnecting said members when the engine starts.

8. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a rotatable driving member adapted to move axially into driving connection with a member of the engine to be started;.a spring adapted'to urge the driving member toward the engine member with yieldingpressure; manually operable means for rendering said spring effective to apply yielding pressure axially to the driving mem= ber in case the driving member collides with the engine member before being drivingly connected therewith. and a manually actuated device operated by force transmitted through said spring for causing the driving member to turn and at the same time increasing the tendency of the spring to urge the driving member against the engine member;

a driving mount for the driving member permitting the driving member to be moved axially by said spring into connection with the engine member after having been turned sufficiently; and means for automatically disconnecting said members when the engine starts.

9. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable. driveshaft member; a rotatable drive-connecting-member adapted to move longitudinally of the shaft member into driving connection with a part of the engine to be started; an intermediate torque transmitting device adapted to move longitudinally of the drive shaft member; means so connecting the intermediate device with one of said members that longitudinal movement of the intermediate device will cause the drive-connecting member to be rotated in case it collides with the engine partbefore being drivingly connected therewith, and so that the drive-connecting-member will be automatically disconnected from the engine part when the engine starts; a spring adapted to urge the drive-connecting-1nember.toward the engine part with yielding pressure; and manually operable means for moving the intermediate device longitudinally of the drive shaftand for rendering the spring effective to cause the drive-connectin -member to enga ,e the eng' e part with yielding pressure while the drive-connecting-me1nber is being rotated in case it collides with the engine part before being connected therewith.

10. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable drive shaft member; a rotatable drive-connecting-member adapted to move longitudinally of the shaft member into driving connection with apart of the engine to be started; an intermediate torque-transmitting device carrying the drive-connectingmemher and adapted to move longitudinally of the drive shaft member; means so connecting the intermediate device with one of said members that longitudinal movement of the intermediate device will cause the drive-connecting-member to be rotated in case it collides with the engine part before being drivingly connected therewith, and sothat the drive-connecting-member will be automatically disconnected from the engine part when the engine starts; a spring adapted to urge the drive-connecting-member toward the engine part with yielding pressure; and manually operable means for moving the intermediate device longitudinally of the drive shaft and for rendering the spring effective to cause the drive-connecting-member to engage the engine part with yielding pressure while the drive-connecting-member is being rotated in case it collides with the engine partbefore being connected therewith.

11. An engine starter drive comprising an axially movable torque-transmitting shaft; a

-drive-connecting-member axially movable with said shaft and into driving engagement with a part of an engine to be started; means so connecting the shaft and member that longitudinal movement of the shaft will cause the member to be rotated in case it collides with the engine part before being drivingly connected therewith. and so that the member will be automatically disconnected from the engine part when the engine starts; a spring adapted to urge the drive-connecting-member toward the engine part with yielding pressure; and manually operablemeans for moving the shaft longitudinally and for rendering the spring effective to cause the driveconnecting-member to engage the engine part with yielding pressure while the drive-connecting member is being rotated in case it collides with the engine part before being connected therewith.

12. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a rotatable driving member adapted to move axially into driving connection with a member of the engine to be started; a manually operated actuator; a train of two instrumentalities acting in tandem relation to transmit motion from the actuator axially to the driving member, one of the two instrumentalities being a spring and the other a device'for causing the driving member to turn, in case of abutment with the engine member, while being pressed by the spring against the engine member; and provisions for automatically demeshing the driving member from the engine member when the engine starts. 7

13. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft member, a pinion member slidable along the drive shaft member axially into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a device movable along the shaft member for moving the pinion member, said device having a longitudinal spline connection with one of said members and a helical spline connection with the other of said members; a manually operated actuator; and a train of two instrumentalities acting in tandem relation to transmit motion from the actuator axially to the pinion, one of the instrumentalities being said device and the other a spring whereby the pinion will be rotated, in case of abutment with the'engine gear, while the pinion is being pressed by said spring against the engine gear.

14. An engine starter drive comprising in combination, a drive shaft member, a pinion member slidable along the drive shaft member axially into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started; a device movable along the shaft member for moving the pinion member, said device having a longitudinal spline connection with the shaft member and a helical spline connection with the pinion member; a manually operated actuator; and a train of two instrumentalities acting in tandem relation to transmit motion from the actuator axially to the pinion, one of the instrumentalities being said device and the other a spring whereby the pinion will be rotated in case of abutment with the engine gear, while the pinion is being pressed by said spring against the engine gear.

15. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a sleeve longitudinally splined to said shaft and having external helical splines, a pinion mounted upon the sleeve and connected with the helical spline thereof whereby relative axial movement between the pinion and sleeve causes the pinion to rotate relative to the sleeve, a shifting collar mounted to move axially along the shaft, a coil spring surrounding the shaft and interposed between the collar and sleeve, and means limiting separation of the collar and sleeve.

16. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a sleeve longitudinally splined to said shaft and having external helical splines, a pinion mounted upon the sleeve and connected with the helical splines thereof whereby relative axial movement between the pinion and sleeve causes the pinion to rotate relative to the sleeve, a-

shifting collar mounted to move axially along the shaft, a coiled spring surrounding the shaft and interposed between the collar and sleeve, and a tubular member surrounding the spring and attached to the collar and having an internal annular flange which is engaged" by an external annular the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I hereto atfix my sig- IRVING J. REUTER.

flange provided by nature. 

